Business owner offers reward as thieves strike city

A GRIFFITH business owner has put up a hefty reward for information after his Hillston Road company was broken into over the weekend.

Thieves tried to access the Bruno Altin safe when they broke in over the weekend. They left graffiti scrawled throughout the site.

Bruno Altin staff were devastated to find their offices had been ransacked by senseless criminals about 3am Sunday morning.

The business is the fifth in Griffith to be burgled in less than two weeks the others include a funeral home, nursery, real estate agent and a truck company.

At the Bruno Altin office, computer monitors had been smashed with a hammer which was stolen from the workshop and there was graffiti strewn across desks, the safe, even the window-sill.

The thieves had made an attempt to open the safe with a hammer but to no avail.

They did, however, make off with various tools, petty cash, an angle grinder and, most devastatingly for the company, a 10-year-old lap top containing vital company data. Company director Gino Altin said he just wants the laptop back and is offering a $1000 reward.

Mr Altin said the reward would be granted to anyone who could return the laptop to the business in its original state or could lead him to its whereabouts.

"There are contact numbers for clients, drawings and designs that we just need back," Mr Altin said.

"I just can't understand this, why come in and smash all the computer screens? It's just pointless."

Crystal Altin said it was very distressing to know criminals had rifled through her workplace.

Just two months ago, Mr Altin and his wife, Gloria's Altina company ute was stolen and written off.

He's still waiting for charges to be laid and has had to replace the ute.

Griffith Police Inspector Kim Traynor acknowledged there had been a number of serious incidents in the past week.

Inspector Traynor said police were continuing investigations.

"We are appealing to members of the public to assist," she said.

If you have any information about any of these crimes, contact Griffith Police on 6969 4299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.